Aaaargh! Never ending frustration!!!

Today got off to such a good start. I got up on time, went to my friends and helped her shave her big furry dog so she'll be comfy for summer. Did some grocery shopping at the "used food store." I didn't make it to photograph at the BMX track but there's always next weekend. I did get out to see my horse and had some mild panic that he was sick, appears to be just allergies. Even better is that I came home see a free sign on a BBQ and cooler across the street from my house. And just when I thought it couldn't get better, my free t-shirt I won came!

I was feeling so good I just had to work on the bike! I tossed her up in the stand and started feebly putting together the things I knew for sure. Down tube stops, water bottle cages, seat post, little plastic thing that goes on "the bottom" to guide the cables.

I was about the time that I couldn't get the seat post bottle holder on that things got ugly. I let the paint set for 48hrs, twice the prescribed time. Even with the clear coat it got scuffed to the primer by the PADDED clamp on the repair stand. Stupid me I just moved it without installing a rag creating even more scuff marks. The black paint has been so troublesome. I've had zero problems with the pink.

Headache number two came when I realized that the shim for my front derailleur was not going to work. I figured it wouldn't when the jerk at the shop just kept brushing off my questions as to the appropriateness of the shim. Fine, I'll rock an eight speed in my middle chain ring for a while or something.

Then it all went to pieces. I thought maybe I could put the headset, fork, stem and bar all together. I grabbed the neato quill adapter I bought and it seemed rather large compared to the old quill stem in the old parts box. Fantastic, they sold me the wrong one, and I bought it clear in Denver.

Tomorrow I'm going to shamelessly take it to another shop in town and just tell them outright what happened, and that I am in the process of developing a loyalty to an LBS and exchanging it for the right one would definitely help that decision. :D So, doesn't look like my big ride to Lyons is happening. Oh well, I'll get over it, maybe.

Dang, how frustrating! Are you working on an older bike? They can be so tedious locating proper parts...
As far as the paint, you should probably let it set way longer than the directions say. I painted my '56 schwinn cruiser last winter and let it set for 2 days and then put the seat on, the paint was still gummy and got totally messed up. I let the bike sit another 5 days before I put anything else on. The paint was much harder and more stable by that time. I probably could have given it even a few more days after that. Also make sure you have it indoors if you live where it's humid.